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Every Movie I Watched For the First Time in 2016: An Analysis

Earlier, I posted my ten favorite movies from 2016. But a “best of” list provides only a snapshot of a yearlong collection of movie-going experiences. If movies can impact a moviegoer’s worldview (by stimulating creativity, encouraging empathy, and raising awareness), then moviegoers should thoughtfully consider which movies they choose to watch. With this in mind, I have posted a list below of every movie I watched for the first time in 2016.

2016 reawakened my appreciation for documentaries. It started with City of Gold, a movie that artfully captures the emotional and cultural relevance of food (and highlights the accomplishments of Jonathan Gold, a clever and intriguing real-life character). Then came Our Last Tango, German Kral’s rousing portrayal of the relationship between Maria Nieves Rego and Juan Carlos Copes, Argentina’s famous tango dancers. Other documentaries like Harmontown, Weiner, and The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution further solidified my renewed awareness of the power of documentary film. And it was Fisher Stevens’ Before the Flood that finally nudged me toward tangible changes in my day-to-day life.

Admittedly, my list contains relatively few films by female directors, and I did not see more than one movie by any one female director. This is a shame, and I plan to do better in 2017.

My 2016 began with Bandslam, Todd Graff’s 2009 teen comedy-drama starring Aly Michalka and Vanessa Hudgens, and it ended with The Color Wheel, Alex Ross Perry’s 2011 black-and-white dialogue-heavy comedy about two siblings who fight the monotony of adult life with wit and awkwardness. Though these bookends do not ostensibly share any themes, they fit nicely into a larger chronological narrative. One movie is about teenagers learning to appreciate life, and the other is about young adults struggling to nurture an appreciation of life amid a barrage of cynicism and mediocrity. Viewed as a pair, the films acknowledge the difficulty of battling against the oppressive temptations of milquetoast adulthood—but they encourage you to fight anyway. And that is the mentality with which I will approach 2017.

Movies that delivered exactly what I expected—no more, no less—and a note about whether or not that fact has positive or negative connotations: Passengers (positive), Doctor Strange (negative), The Hateful Eight (positive), The Legend of Tarzan (negative), A Bulldog for Christmas (positive)

Movies I FINALLY watched after years of neglect: Full Metal Jacket (1987), Jaws (1975), and The Mist (2007).

Ben Boruff is a co-founder of Big B and Mo’ Money, and he has reviewed comics for ComicBastards.com and ImpulseGamer.com. Some of his favorite directors are Whit Stillman, Seijun Suzuki, Noah Baumbach, Kathryn Bigelow, Stanley Kubrick, Antione Fuqua, Don Hertzfeldt, Adam McKay, and Tom Hooper. Follow him on Twitter: @BenMagicAwesome